Belardi/Ostroy’s 6th Annual Summit: Key Takeaways

Belardi/Ostroy’s 6th Annual Summit was attended by over 100 industry leaders and prominent retail brands. During the two-day event, we heard from notable individuals who presented invaluable insights, and we wanted to share them with you!

There were several themes from our esteemed speakers:

LISTEN to your customers. Kelly Goldston, VP of Marketing at ELOQUII emphasized, “A customer-centric organization starts with a culture of listening.” This fabulous brand listens through data collection to better understand the impact of their marketing and product choices. Goldston concluded: “You can’t be truly customer-centric until the entire company commits to seeking out honest feedback from your customers in as many ways possible.”

Takeaway: Get to know your customers and listen to their feedback.

GET REAL with your consumers. Beth Gumm, CMO at American Giant noted, “It’s all about a real emotional connection.” Echoed by many brands at the event, Gumm spoke about the importance and impact of using relatable people to tell their brand stories to fully connect with consumers. Gumm summarized, “You have to connect consumer values with your brand and what you sell.”

Takeaway: It is all about the connection.

REMAIN RELEVANT in your niche. “Great brands are built on being relevant to your customer and differentiated from your competition,” advised Chris Nicklo, VP, Customer and CMO at Z Gallerie. This fashion home brand supports customers by appealing to their interests and innermost desires; marketers must target the right consumers and convince them this is the lifestyle they need. Repeated story-telling is crucial for brand growth. Nicklo said, “We’ve created a brand story that sets the stage for growth.”

Takeaway: Be unique and aspirational.

Overall, this year’s summit was inspiring and relevant. Not only was it a prime networking opportunity, but the ideal occasion to learn from fellow marketers how to further develop, enhance and grow your brand. If you are interested in attending next year’s summit, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!